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DoD Mulls China Defense Spending Jump

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2001  DoD officials are analyzing reports that the People's Republic of China is increasing military spending this year by almost 18 percent.

"Is it something that we pay attention to? You bet," Pentagon spokesman Navy Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said at a March 6 press briefing. "Is it all by itself going to have a profound impact on U.S. defense policy and defense spending? I don't think so. I think that is too strong a description."

Quigley noted that U.S. defense planners would examine any national security impact of the purported 17.7 percent Chinese defense spending increase.

"You really do take a look at a regional basis. You rely on the commander in chief of the Pacific, you rely on the U.S. ambassadors in those countries to get a feel for the tenor of military engagement throughout a region," he said.